The building is to undergo an £800,000 facelift after the Home Office agreed improvement plans for the Ellison Street site.

Insp Stuart Thompson said the final plans are still being drawn up by architects, but he expects some major changes at the base by 2004.

"It's going to be a total refurbishment," he said.

"The frontage will stay very similar to what we have now, but the interior will be brought up to date with modern policing."

He said as well as giving officers better accommodation and facilities, the refurbishment will also benefit the community.

"It builds the building stock up to the requirements of modern day policing and we've got quite a few new probationary officers coming, so there is a requirement to increase space in the parade room," the inspector said.

Insp Thompson added some of the areas earmarked for change are the custody suites, offices and possibly some building extensions into the car park area.

He said: "It was only approved earlier this year, but the money will be spent in the next financial year - so by April 2004 it should be complete."

The work is expected to take about nine months and the first phase of plans should be completed within the next few weeks.